Every year my flock of sheep have to be inspected by the Federal Vet for health reasons. Since the lamb I raise goes on the national food chain, I have no issue with that, but the Vet is a great guy and stares in amazement at how neat and stacked my firewood pile is, though in reality it is not a big deal...just a little pride in ones work no matter what it is. Anyway he was blown away when I told him I actually burn a lot of coal.

So for about a half hour, we talk about all the benefits of coal, how it can't start a chimney fire, is easy to get, burns hot, is not expensive, etc and he is sucking this all up. He even took a piece of coal home to show his wife in the hopes that he can convince her coal is the way to go.

All in all I think I converted him.

I guess the hardest thing about coal is trying to convey to people the difficulties in getting it to burn compared to wood. There is a steep learning curve there, but once you get coal to burn, man you are addicted.

Good job partner So far I have converted 2 wood burners to coal. A co-worker over heard me gloating over my coal burning and asked for advice. I went to his house and told him how to make his furnace more coal friendly. (Our furnaces require some subtle alterations for a better coal burning experience) He now has 4 tons in his basement

And my uncle, who went balls to the wall and bought this monster boiler (burns buckwheat size coal) - He is heating 3 buildings with it. (his two story home, a shop and a small apartment).

My father just went out and bought a pellet boiler to heat his 5000 square foot home. I told him repeatedly to buy one that burned coal, but he kept saying he wanted something "light" so that my Mom could fill the hopper in case he died. I told him 40 pounds of coal weighs the same as 40 pounds of pellets. Now after a month of burning tons of pellets he wishes he had bought a coal boiler and is looking into seeing if his pellet boiler can burn coal. They do make coal pellets, but I am not sure if his power draft has enough "umff" to push the fly ash up the chimney since his pellet boiler has no real ash pan.

At some point, and I am NOT ready now, I must investigate a coal boiler for my home once I get all my radiant floors done. After running my propane boiler for a few days, I realize how great an evenly warmed house is. I have not even started looking at my boiler options, though I am seriously considering building my own. I see some of the prices on these things and just cannot justify it. I know I can buy a whole lot of steel for what they are asking for and the shipyard has scrap steel that us employees can buy and it is the best in the business. For instance they use copper-nickel pipe and not the cheap copper you buy in the stores. That would work well for some applications.

though I am seriously considering building my own. I see some of the prices on these things and just cannot justify it. I know I can buy a whole lot of steel for what they are asking for

I have no doubts you can do it with your background. You will probably have to buy either the auger feed and pot or the bed type stoker. Remember, lots of pics if you attempt this. I am sure lots will weigh in with negative and positive comments.